The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1887-08-04
For the Journal.
Priscilla Fryes Letter to Parson Somes

By an error two verses of this poem were
omitted when published in the Journal of
July 18th, and it is now reprinted with the
missing verses restored
Dear Par>on Somes. take my pen
To write you full and free,
hope these lines will find you well
As they are leaving me.
\ question strange is veXing me,
And turns my head about.
And so | write the whole to YOU.
Perhaps you'll help me out.
Long Years ago, when | was Young.
| married stephen Wood,
| tried to do my duty well.
And lived the best | could.
And stephen. WE'LL he want the worst
BY any sort of means,
But just about an average man
For few Of them are friends.
We lived together twenty years.
Then Stephen took his bed,
And wasted grew with burning heat
And fever in his head.
tended him the best l knew,
And watched him day and night.
And tried TO ea>e the dreadful pain
With what ] thought was right.
The DOCTOR too. came every day.
And cousin Mary .JaNe
Staid by hi side and tried To help
Poor stephen round again.
But all was vain. he pined away
And left me sad and lone.
Without a child TO cheer lay lot
pr share my lonely home.
laid him on the Green hillside
Above the orchard gray,
Where robins sim their merry songs
Throughout the ive-long day.
| planted there the ear! y flowers
And watercl them with tear>.
AID fell III Keep his memory green
Through all the coming Years.
But time will heal the kccnc>t wounds,
An 20 the days went by.
And when two wears hal passed away
married Reuben Frye.
ION, blame me. -ir. lonesome felt
.Aiia for me TO mourn and fret
Would never bring poor stephen back,
But then. didn't forget.
Il think loved the children, TOO
And felt in them Il pride.
Poor little i!iin.ss. thc,'ti lonely lnri..
Since Mary Frye hal died.
50 Reuben look me home with him
To the farmhouse on the hill,
And baby Blanche crept in my arms
And BcS> ami little Will.
They nearer grew TO me each day.
loved them like my life,
And unto Reuben Frye proved
\ GOOD and faithful wife
tried to do my best, and read
The Bible every day.
And taught the children how 10 walk
The straight and narrow way
The time flew hy. and thirty years
Had passed since stephen Went
And Hcubci'- shoulders broad and -tout
Meath weight of wears Were bent.
Til" children one lay one hal conc
t;,.t i,ttt al,
TO wait in faith the pc;.r full call
10 our eternal home.
one sunny morn when Rc!lben sat
Asleep in his armchair.
With rays of sunshine ,treaniin. ia
And mant.ing silver hair,
y beckoAng angel softly came
And touched with shining wal'!
The silver crown. and took him homo
10 COOS own summer land.
SO low I'm left. 4 pilgrim Old
With eye-si-ht growing dim,
Just waiting for the Masters cal
10 tax" NE home to Him.
I've Strengthened up all my accounts
And fixed the balance sheet.
And only wait the rest of God
For Worn and bi>tcred feet.
But still there's one thing troubles me.
I've thought it DER and DER.
hose wife Will be, when | reach
The bright eternal shore:
10 stephen Wood gave the love
That GOES with early youth.
But Reuben held my woman'> heart,
y heart of love and truth.
Must give back to Mary Frye
The gift OF God the best.
The love that cheercd my womanhood
And made my pathway best:
IlpSp tlnlrIt. disturb, my weary lr.ili
And make lie startled look
And then can't compose my thoughts
TO read the Blessed Book.
80 Par>on some, if YOU will come.
And tell me straight and true,
Just what gon think about these things
I'll be obliged to YOU.
| want to get these points sure
Before I'm called to die.
And now sign myself IN haste.
Your friend Priscilla FRYE.
HELEN \. PACKARD.